South Gloucestershire

South Gloucestershire's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and work life.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of South Gloucestershire increased by 7.0%, from just under 246,000 to 263,000.

The addition of about 17,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Gloucestershire was home to, on average, 3.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Fewer married people

This area saw the South West's largest fall in the proportion of married people.

Across the region, Isles of Scilly saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of married people (from 59% in 2001 to 54% in 2011).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53% to 49%.

In 2011, just over one in two (52%) people aged 16 and over in South Gloucestershire said they were married, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 26% to 30%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

This area saw the South West's largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

Across the region, Wiltshire saw the next largest increase in the proportion of single-parent households (from 7.3% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011).

During this period, South Gloucestershire overtook 10 local authority areas, including Forest of Dean and Bath and North East Somerset, to become the South West local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.4%) households in South Gloucestershire had a single parent, compared with 7.5% in 2001. The percentage with a married couple decreased from 45% to 39%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in South Gloucestershire that rented privately increased from 6.3% to 14% between the last two censuses.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 9.8%, while the percentage of South Gloucestershire households that owner their home decreased from 82% to 75%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in South Gloucestershire increased by 7.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Gloucestershire, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Gloucestershire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 9.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in South Gloucestershire decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Gloucestershire, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of South Gloucestershire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Gloucestershire decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Gloucestershire, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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